mettlesome

adjective

ˈme-tᵊl-səm How to pronounce mettlesome (audio)
Definition of mettlesomenext
1
as in energetic
having much high-spirited energy and movement the mettlesome opening dance number got the audience all jazzed up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fiery
marked by a lively display of strong feeling a mettlesome debate on the teaching of evolution in the schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mettlesome He may have been provoked into battle by the ruler of Cebu, who was using Magellan’s troops to rid himself of a mettlesome chieftain known to raid the trade ships that navigated the waters in and around the islands. — Tim Carman, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettlesome
  1. energetic
  2. fiery
  3. animated
  4. spirited
  5. lively
  6. spunky
  7. animate
  8. passionate
Adjective
  • The energetic gameplay and short rounds make Dutch Blitz easy to play with your family over and over again, without getting bored.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Maurice’s brother Verdine joined Earth, Wind & Fire in 1970, contributing to its distinctive sound with his energetic performances and innovative bass lines.
    — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of energetic
Adjective
  • Alas, the peace does not hold even for a minute, as Daemon takes Corlys back as a prisoner, and embarks on a fiery campaign against Tumbleton.
    — Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But employees were already used to spectacular mishaps, fiery and otherwise.
    — Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • Bautista has several other movies coming up, Alpha Gang, which premieres at the Toronto Film Festival; the animated Ally; and Highlander.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Although animated sequels have majorly rebounded at the box office, original fare remains challenged.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 July 2026
Definition of animated
Adjective
  • Hilton rose to fame as a popular, and notorious, gossip blogger in the 2000s, which garnered both millions of readers as well as pushback from some celebrities who felt his coverage was mean-spirited.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Robust cold-brew espresso is blended with a spirited kick of Fernie's Funnel Cake Cream Cocktail™, creating layers of deep coffee flavors and hints of vanilla.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of spirited
Adjective
  • The sightlines are good and the atmosphere lively, confirming the potential of Plymouth, the biggest city in the country never to have hosted a top-flight football club.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Shipley-Welter remembers when the town was more lively, with open storefronts and a nearby grocery store.
    — Julianna Mejia August 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of lively
Adjective
  • The group consists of levelheaded leader Blossom, sweet-natured Bubbles, and spunky Buttercup.
    — Oliver Gettell, Entertainment Weekly, 26 July 2026
  • As for her birth story, Lockwood says her smart and spunky 5-year-old daughter knows it all.
    — Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of spunky
Adjective
  • To imagine the natural world not as a passive resource but as an animate collaborator would be to reorder more than aesthetic categories, demanding another relation to our environment.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 29 May 2026
  • Zugunruhe is the itinerant desire of any animate being to keep moving and growing.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 6 May 2026
Definition of animate
Adjective
  • Klein, a Silicon Valley software engineering manager, was a passionate collector until his hobby overwhelmed his home and family life.
    — Terry Chea, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Early signs suggest professional softball can indeed convert passionate fans into a lasting enterprise.
    — Allison Smith, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of passionate

Browse Nearby Words

mettle
mettlesome
mew
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Cite this Entry

“Mettlesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettlesome. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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